100th House District preview: Brauer has an opponent

For the first time, Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, has a primary election opponent, Bill Hinrichs of Rochester. Here's a rundown of the race in the 100th House District.

Doug Finke

For the first time, Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, has a primary election opponent, Bill Hinrichs of Rochester. Here's a rundown of the race in the 100th House District.

Brauer, 55, is completing his fourth term as a House member in a heavily Republican district.

Like virtually all candidates for public office in Illinois, Brauer said the primary issue is dealing with the state's financial mess. He has not ruled out support for an income tax hike if certain conditions are met.

"The first thing is to make cuts and see how deep they are," Brauer said. "You don't cut you way out (of the financial problems), but you don't spend you way out either."

Despite the state's budget deficit, Brauer said he wants to work to ensure adequate funding for agricultural programs, for autism treatment programs and for historic preservation.

Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site is in Brauer's district.

Hinrichs, 60, is a retired employee of the state Board of Education. He has never run for public office before.

"I'm pretty fed up with everything going on in this country," Hinrichs said. "I complain about stuff all of the time. I thought I'd run and do something about it."

Hinrichs said he would cut taxes on business, but could support a temporary income tax hike.

"Anybody that says they will be forever against a tax increase is either very naive or misleading people," Hinrichs said.

He believes House members should be placed under a two-term limit.

Hinrichs focused on school finance at the Board of Education. He said swapping property taxes for income taxes to fund education isn't a panacea.

"A swap doesn't do anything for education," he said. "It changes the burden of who pays the tax."

Specifically, away from corporations that pay comparatively less in income taxes than property taxes.

Hinrichs refers people to his Web site -- www.billhinrichs.com - for details about his campaign.

"I'm not going to spend a lot here," he said. "I just felt I had to do something."